PL club now interested in signing £75k-a-week Arsenal player in January, he’s desperate to leave – journalist

By Ben Evans

Arsenal fans will be hoping that the club can make a couple of key signings in the January transfer window.

A forward and midfielder are certainly on Mikel Arteta’s shopping list with an unlikely title challenge at stake.

A report from Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas suggests there could be some outgoings at The Emirates too.

There are a number of senior players who have hardly featured in the league for Arteta this season.

Arsenal are currently fighting on three fronts, with Arteta also needing to focus on the Europa League and FA Cup.

The likes of Rob Holding and Cedric Soares have barely played in the Premier League.

And Thomas now believes that Premier League side Fulham are interested in signing Cedric in January.

Marco Silva’s side made a late bid to sign Cedric in the summer, but the move never materialised.

Fulham raided Arsenal in the summer to sign goalkeeper Bernd Leno, and now want to add another Gunner to their squad.

Fulham are interested in Arsenal defender Cedric

The proposed move could be a transfer that works for all parties.

Fulham need a new right-back with Marco Silva not convinced by new signing Kevin Mbabu.

Kenny Tete has been his established first-choice in that role under the Portuguese manager.

When he was injured earlier in the season, Silva opted to play Bobby Decordova-Reid over Mbabu, despite his natural position being as a forward.

Therefore, Cedric would have a lot more opportunities at Craven Cottage than The Emirates.

At Arsenal, the £75,000-a-week defender finds himself quite far down the pecking order.

Ben White is having a fantastic season in his new role at right-back.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is also favoured ahead of Cedric on either side, meaning he’s only likely to get cameos in cup competitions.

Michael Bridge, via Give Me Sport, believes that the Portuguese is now keen to leave Arsenal to play more football.

With Fulham now interested in signing Cedric, the 31-year-old could be tempted into a move that grants him more opportunities.

However, there’s also a chance Cedric could play a small role in Arsenal winning a historic title.

That might help Arteta to convince him to stick it out for six more months at The Emirates if he wants to keep him.